1.a3

I'm considereing plaing 1.a3 because I'm finding that I enjoy my openings that I use with Black, but don't enjoy openings as White. I'm considering playing 1.a3 so that if Black plays 1...e5, then I can play the Reversed French Defense with 2.e3 (that's my favorite response, very few people at the club level know how to play against the French properly), and if I...d5, then I can play my Reversed Benko Gambit with 2.Nf3.

When I've experimented with 1.a3 much of the time my opponent will make an equally obnoxious move like 1... h3. I never get into the reversed openings I was hoping for. I like the concept, but in practice it never seems to work how I want.

When I've experimented with 1.a3 much of the time my opponent will make an equally obnoxious move like 1... h3. I never get into the reversed openings I was hoping for. I like the concept, but in practice it never seems to work how I want.

Why should Black response with 1...h6?

Maybe someone is doing this, but most players respond with e5,d5,c5 or maybe Nf6 or Nc6, but not h6!

When I've experimented with 1.a3 much of the time my opponent will make an equally obnoxious move like 1... h3. I never get into the reversed openings I was hoping for. I like the concept, but in practice it never seems to work how I want.

Why should Black response with 1...h6?

Maybe someone is doing this, but most players respond with e5,d5,c5 or maybe Nf6 or Nc6, but not h6!

They shouldn't play 1. ..h6, but that's the kind of garbage that happens to me when I play 1. a3.

I arrived at the conclusion that objectively apart from e4 and d4 no other move make sense. There is nothing that the other moves achieve which can't be achieved by e4 or d4 but they have drawbacks compared to e4 and d4.

I think the only decision you have to make is whether to play e4 (open game) or d4 (closed game) on the first move.

When I've experimented with 1.a3 much of the time my opponent will make an equally obnoxious move like 1... h3. I never get into the reversed openings I was hoping for. I like the concept, but in practice it never seems to work how I want.

Why should Black response with 1...h6?

Maybe someone is doing this, but most players respond with e5,d5,c5 or maybe Nf6 or Nc6, but not h6!

They shouldn't play 1. ..h6, but that's the kind of garbage that happens to me when I play 1. a3.

Thats bad luck for you, but it happens :-)

I would then continue to play "normal" moves...when 1...h6 doesnt make any sense.

The move a3 simply gives black a chance to develop at will. Pressure on black is released. The fact that black can't any longer put a bishop on b4 is not enough compensation for this since there are several other good ways for black to develop.

My favourite example is c4. What does c4 achieve? It allows the b-knight to be developed behind a pawn. Good! But it also allows black to play e5 right away without the difficulties apparent in Ruy Lopez or the Italian game for example. Which side is better off here? I think clearly black.

What is wrong with playing the white pieces as black. That is what a3 does. It basically makes white, black. What is wrong with that? I like pkaying black more. I have a better repertoire like the french and the benko. I do not see anything wrong with playing white as black. Even a computer engine says that white only loses by a little more than a third of a pawn as far as scoring goes. It says about 0.35 uf i play a normal ruy lopez and about 0 if i play a3. Not bad.

I arrived at the conclusion that objectively apart from e4 and d4 no other move make sense. There is nothing that the other moves achieve which can't be achieved by e4 or d4 but they have drawbacks compared to e4 and d4.

I think the only decision you have to make is whether to play e4 (open game) or d4 (closed game) on the first move.

What's wrong with 1.a3?

nothing it just is unambitious as Pfren said. One of the points of the opening is to gain space in the center unless you are playing a hyper modern opening and a3 also doesn't do anything unless you're trying some b4 thing but you should play more in the center.

please explain the kid, kia, nimzo- indian and queen's indian to me. Are they inferior? Nimzo scores nearly 50% in the database which is alot better than most sicilians. Oh and add caro kann and french to you're list and pirc.

I'm not being unabitious. Ambitious means willing to succeed. The French Defense usually assures Black at least equality, unless White plays a pawn sacrifice variation in the Tarrasch with Nf3. Many times, since people are so bad at playing the French, Black will get at an advantage. So, by playing 1...a3, I'm going into an opening in which I know there's pretty much a certain chance of equality and more likely an advantage. This means I'm willing to succeed. Which means I'm being ambitious by playing 1.a3.

If Black plays 1...d5, not a problem either. I'll just play the Benko Gambit Reversed +1 tempo. In the Benko Gambit Reversed, White has clear compensation. The Benko Gambit is a fighting opening on the queen side. Sounds pretty abitious to me.

Don't judge the first move and make assumptions. And I know you're supposed to take control of the center, and in both the French and Benko Reversed, White starts doing that the next move...

I know you're supposed to play in the center until the center closes off. Then wing activity begins. So both openings are fighting for the center and are ambitious.

I'm not being unabitious. Ambitious means willing to succeed. The French Defense usually assures Black at least equality, unless White plays a pawn sacrifice variation in the Tarrasch with Nf3. Many times, since people are so bad at playing the French, Black will get at an advantage. So, by playing 1...a3, I'm going into an opening in which I know there's pretty much a certain chance of equality and more likely an advantage. This means I'm willing to succeed. Which means I'm being ambitious by playing 1.a3.

If Black plays 1...d5, not a problem either. I'll just play the Benko Gambit Reversed +1 tempo. In the Benko Gambit Reversed, White has clear compensation. The Benko Gambit is a fighting opening on the queen side. Sounds pretty abitious to me.

Don't judge the first move and make assumptions. And I know you're supposed to take control of the center, and in both the French and Benko Reversed, White starts doing that the next move...

I know you're supposed to play in the center until the center closes off. Then wing activity begins. So both openings are fighting for the center and are ambitious.

I don't see the problem here with 1.a3.

ambition is not a willingness to succeed it is the need to succeed. Not meaning to impose btw feel free to play you're opening. I play the french as black so no complaints on my part. Btw I think after a3 you should seriously consider the classical french reversed which for black is e4 e6 d4 d5 nc3 nf6 in which case after bg5 be7 e5 nfd7 BxB QxB f4 is played and after that black is supposed to play a6 so that after c5 there is no threat for white of Nb5 but if it is reversed colors you have already played a3 so it follows allong with that plan.

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